There are opportunities for UK companies to supply products and services to the international science facilities of which the UK is a member. These include:
- CERN
- the European Southern Observatory (ESO)
- the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL)
- the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)
- the European Spallation Source (ESS)
- European-XFEL (Eu-XFEL)
- the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR)
- Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO).
Contract opportunities exist in a wide range of sectors and across all technology levels; from civil engineering through to precision mechanical engineered parts. The STFC business opportunities team provides free assistance to help UK companies hear about and win contracts at these facilities.
Next steps
Our business opportunities service provides free support to UK companies working across a diverse range of sectors. From office supplies to instrumentation, we help businesses access contracts from the large international science facilities that STFC funds on behalf of the UK.
The business opportunities service provides:
- advanced notice of upcoming tenders from international science facilities
- support and advice on the tenders processes for our international facilities
- targeted events to link you with facility procurement specialists.
Contact the STFC business opportunities team
Email: tenderopportunities@stfc.ukri.org
Tendering to the international facilities
For more information on each of the facilities, including their procurement processes and tips for bidding, see the specific facility pages:
Before you start
- Find out about the Big Science, Big Business initiative
- Check our UK suppliers and partners for Big Science brochure
- Read stories of business success at international facilities
- Get export guidance from the Department for International Trade
- Connect with UK Export Finance, the UK’s export credit agency
Tenders from the UKRI national facilities can be found on UKRI’s procurement portal.